FARMINGTON — A handful of residents sounded off Tuesday night at the Police Department’s first community outreach forum, addressing their concerns and asking questions about local criminal activity.

Residents touched on issues related to drug problems, which Police Chief Kevin Willey said is the largest issue he sees in the community, and an uptick burglaries.

Willey said the department has responded to more than 60 burglary incidents so far this year, but noted his officers have a 35 percent solvability rate, which is well-above the 13 percent national average.

One resident, who moved to town two months ago, said the first week she relocated to the area thieves stole gas out of her vehicle. Today, she has a locking mechanism on her tank, and Willey stressed all residents should strive to make themselves a more difficult target for burglars. He added the holiday season is the prime time for burglaries to be committed, especially of new purchases left out in homes and cars including valuable electronics.

“Keep this stuff out of sight. If you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time, let us know,” he said. “Leave lights on. Watch out for your neighbors. Report anything that looks suspicious.”

Another resident said her 13-year-old daughter was being followed on her way home from school and thanked the police for being so responsive and understanding. Other attendees asked about diversion programs for drug addicts and the best way to report crime in the area.

One woman said she witnessed a drug deal in the parking lot of the local Rite Aid Pharmacy. Officer Scott Orlando said witnesses should always take note of a vehicle’s license registration, in case a patrolman cannot respond to the incident in time. This information can be stored in the department’s “intel” system for future crimes as well.

Willey also explained the workings of the department during the near two-hour forum with about 10 residents in the basement of the Town Hall building. He said his organization is still understaffed with two officers due out of the police academy this December, and another returning from field training in January. He added currently, the police’s overtime fund is $7,000 over its $40,000 budget, which is also due in part to Ryan Stewart’s murder in January.

Willey stressed he would also like to make the department more accessible, by utilizing social media, updating the town’s police website and bringing back a bike patrol in the warmer months. He stressed better surveillance of the area, along with making Farmington a safer community, will largely come from residents’ support and help.

“I believe in leaving this community in a better place than I found it,” Willey said. “But I can’t do this by myself. We, as a department, can’t do this by ourselves … Our goal is to eventually have the police and community become integrated so we’re considered one. I want to blur the lines …”

For the future, Willey told the group he would like to hold more meetings, and will soon invite the public for a walking tour through the police station. He noted he and Fire Chief Richard Fowler, who also attended the forum, are hoping to build a new public safety building in the coming years. He said currently, the columns supporting the fire station are rotting and the police station has become too small for its operational services, and also has issues with mold.

“We are looking at a huge undertaking in order to do this,” Willey added.

The next community police forum will be held in late February or early March. Willey said he hopes to hold the forums every three months.